I Thought Arctic Drilling Was Off The Table

[Me.]

So what’s up with this?


‘Shell ordered to suspend Arctic drilling’

‘ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A federal appeals court has ordered Shell Oil to stop its exploratory drilling program off the north coast of Alaska at least until a hearing in August.
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The order, issued Thursday by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, comes after the federal Minerals Management Service in February approved Shell's offshore exploration plan for the Beaufort Sea.

"Vessels currently located in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas shall cease all operations performed in furtherance of that program, but need not depart the area," the order said.

Opponents contend that the Minerals Management Service approved Shell's plan without fully considering that a large spill would harm marine mammals, including bowhead and beluga whales. They say polar bears could also be harmed, and they question whether cleaning up a sizable spill would even be possible in the icy waters.

Company officials are obviously disappointed, said Shell spokesman Curtis Smith.’ cont…

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070721/ap_on_bi_ge/shell_offshore_drilling;_ylt=AlaEmYul1xwpYp09b4nYFuR34T0D

[Blue_In_AK]

1. This isn't ANWR

[Me.]

2. Aah

can you give more detail?

[acmavm]

3. ANWR - Arctic National Wildlife Reserve is off limits (right now)

http://arctic.fws.gov/

[Blue_In_AK]

4. Here are maps of the locations

Beaufort and Chukchi Seas



ANWR



the difference being that this ruling precludes offshore drilling. ANWR is on land.